Raffles and the golden opportunity 1781-1826 / Victoria Glendinning.

A biography of Sir Stamford Raffles, best known as the founder of Singapore. Joining the East India Company as a clerk at the age of 14, Raffles was appointed assistant secretary to the government of the Company's Penang presidency. In 1811, following the invasion of Java, Raffles was appointed lieutenant-governor by his patron Lord Minto. Raffles came under criticism for his administration and financial record in Java after its return to the Dutch and he was transferred to Benkoolen. Then, in 1818, Raffles and Colonel William Farquhar were tasked with finding a strategic trading post in the area resulting in the establishment of a settlement at Singapore. On returning to England in 1824, Raffles lost all his personal possesions in a fire which destroyed HMS Fame and left him financially ruined. He married twice, firstly to Olivia Mariamne Fancourt and following her death, to Sophia Hull. He wrote the History of Java, had a keen interest in natural history and was elected first president of the Zoological Society in 1826. The text is supported by illustrations and a bibliography.